Back in 2013 I was using a Sony NEX-5N mirrorless body and a Nikon D300 dSLR. I know this partly because I remember and partly because of this entry. Both of those cameras are crop-sensor cameras. Each has an APS-C size sensor. The lens that was the topic of the 2013 entry (and this entry) offers an image circle sufficient to cover a full-frame sensor.
I still have the D300, although it has not seen much use the last few years. I traded the NEX-5N to my buddy Jimmy years ago for some vintage glass and a little cash. The NEX-5N was replaced by the Fuji X-T1 when I dove in to the deep end on Fujifilm products.
I had a couple of full-frame (35mm) mirrorless cameras in my inventory until I recently them to fund an upgrade. The first was the original Sony A7S that I bought as an experiment (it was not the current version when I bought it). I used it to shoot old 35mm lenses so they would render as they were designed to do on a 35mm frame. A couple of years ago I decided to buy a little newer model (the A7Sii) so I would get the in-body image stabilization.
I recently sold both the A7S and A7Sii bodies, after buying a Sony A7iii. One of the reasons I sold my Sony A7S and A7Sii bodies is because most of my use for the full-frame body is to play around, literally, with old lenses. Old can mean anything from 30-years ago or more. Much of my collection is from the 1970s and some from earlier, back to the 1950s.
The A7Sii was an upgrade to the original A7S (in my case) simply to get the in-body image stabilization (IBIS). IBIS provides a usable image at low shutter speeds without a tripod. A couple of months ago I decided I did not use the extreme low-light capacity of the A7S bodies and had intended to sell the original A7S anyway. I bought a Sony A7iii because I still intend to work with my old camera lenses, but wanted a little more resolution and an updated camera experience.
OK, that is the backstory so back to the lens. Jimmy loaned me the Tokina back in 2013 for a test run. The performance I got from it justified the asking price, so I bought it. I used it a bit with the D300, but moved on to other things a few years later. Then last year I started working with my cameras more (the story has been told) and am working through my lens collection, sorting, testing, and deciding what to keep and what to sell.
Sunday morning I noticed the fat, squatty Tokina sitting on my Nikon shelf and picked it up. I am enjoying playing with non-standard focal lengths and I thought the 28–85mm range might be interesting on the full-frame sensor. I remembered shooting this lens with the D300 on a hike around the Marina with Jimmy and Ki up in Sparks one warm summer evening. (That was a good, good day!)
I pulled the images yesterday. There were only a few as I was distracted in the field. What I learned is slightly different from my experience with the crop-sensor bodies — there is some substantial vignetting at 28mm and f/4. It is not apparent in the upper image because vignetting is trivial to fix in post processing. There is a slider in PhotoLab and it takes only seconds to get it corrected.
The lens is reasonably sharp (for a zoom). The Sony colors are a little flat (in my opinion), but again that is trivial to fix in post processing. The range of focal lengths the Tokina provides is useful and I do not have a Nikkor zoom lens in that range. (That is a problem with a solution. I also have prime lenses that cover the focal length range.) So, although my thought was to sell the Tokina, I think I will keep it for now. If I can find a nice Nikkor or Tamron in that focal length range, then I might sell the Tokina. It would not be a good lens for a film camera unless one likes the vignetting.
The bottom shot is from the other end of the focal length range, 85mm. The light is not particularly good, but there was no vignetting and the lens is, again, reasonably sharp. It is certainly sharp enough for general photography.
In the end, my outing Sunday was good. The Girl and I got exercise. I chatted on the phone with my ham buddy, Dick, while walking. I made a few images, although none are portfolio grade. The captures gave me an idea for a post and that was tickled by the original post from 11-years ago.
I am grateful. Life is good.
